NSW Taxi Drivers Face Heavy Fines for Refusing Disabled Passengers

0:00In Sydney, it's March 18, here's what is happening. The New South Wales labor government has rolled out tough new fines of up to $3,000 for taxi drivers who refuse rides to passengers, using disability fair subsidies. This targets the taxi transport subsidy scheme, or TTSS, along with similar programs from other states. Previously, driver space no penalties because they could claim they were just rejecting the payment method, not the fair itself. And now, fines apply to turning away paper dockets, smart cards, or any valid subsidy. Taxi companies must also fully comply with these scheme rules. One big change ups the penalty for starting the meter too early on wheelchair users from $300 to $3,000. Officials say this sends a clear message against exploiting vulnerable riders. Transport Minister John Graham called these refusal stories infuriating and stressed zero tolerance for bad behavior. He praised most drivers for doing the right thing, while bowing to crack down on the few

1:02who don't. A Sydney resident with vision impairment shared how he was repeatedly left stranded, including once at the airport. The taxi council welcomes the fixes, saying it floods the key loophole, and ensures accountability for everyone. D&N is brought to you by our sponsor link in the description. If sleep podcasts are your thing, this is your pillow. For comfort and calm, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com, made in AI.